Trump Labor Secretary resigns over Epstein plea deal

By:
Jamie Dupree

Updated: Jul 12, 2019 - 10:33 AM

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Trump Labor Secretary resigns over Epstein plea deal

Two days after defending his decisions as a U.S. Attorney in a 2008 sex crimes plea bargain with financier Jeffrey Epstein, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigned on Friday, saying he did not want his past work as a federal prosecutor to overshadow economic efforts under the Trump Administration.

Standing outside the White House with Acosta, President Donald Trump told reporters that Acosta was not forced out - that Acosta had called to offer his resignation.

"He has been a fantastic Secretary of Labor," the President said with Acosta at his side. "I just want you to know this is him, not me."

"We're going to miss him," Mr. Trump added.

"I do not think it is right and fair for this administration's Labor Department to have Epstein as the focus, rather than the incredible economy that we have today," Epstein said. "I told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside."

Alex Acosta: "I do not think it's right and fair for this administration's Labor Department to have Epstein as the focus rather than the incredible economy we have today. And so I called the President this morning. I told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside" pic.twitter.com/4J8QpNmvat

"Jeffrey Epstein abused underage girls for years, operating a scheme in which girls he victimized would recruit others for Epstein to exploit and abuse," said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman.

The new charges raised immediate questions as to why Epstein had seemingly been let off with what critics labeled a 'sweetheart' plea deal.

"We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail," Acosta told reporters earlier this week, as he defended his decisions eleven years ago. "He needed to go to jail. And that was the focus.”

But Acosta's explanations did little to quell calls on Capitol Hill for him to leave his Labor post.

When he was a US Attorney, Labor Sec Acosta demonstrated poor judgement while handling a plea deal w/ Jeffrey Epstein. No one should escape blame & as a consequence, I believe it is the right thing for the country that Mr. Acosta announced his resignation. https://t.co/jIbFJmFStmpic.twitter.com/XYVUfhyldf